Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-05-18
BY A. G. WARWICK.

It vas the second night OF the
blizzard. The wind whistled through
the great open furnace room, and
seven glowing furnaces sent up their
mighty breath to the kilns above.
Pete, the "night man." pulling his
old cap over his ears, crouched down
before the middle fire and could
scarcely keep warm then.
The snow whirled In at both ends of
the building and lay In little drifts on
the clean brick floor. Through the
window before him Pete could see
across the narrow alley into the back
room OF g. saloon, where g. game Of
seven-up was progressing. A f1aring
gas let lit up the low, smoke black
ened room, the dirty wooden table
and the eager, stolid and cunning
faces of the group Of players. A big,
burly Swede seemed to De winning, to
the chagrin and wrath OF an excited
little Irishman, at the other side OF
the table; presently the saloonkeeper
came in, leaning affectionately on the
Swede's shoulder, began code of
signals to the Irishman, whose face
grew rapidly exultant in proportion
as his adversary's fell. Pete grinned
In appreciation as he went off to the
engine room. When he returned, a.
few minutes later, the window was
dark, the gas turned out, and the
players dispersed; a red glow from the
furnace was their only light. Pete be-
gan 80 prepare for his supper. TAX
Ing half a dozen potatoes from his
can, he was STOPPING over the fire and
covering them carefully over with the
hacky gray ashes round its edges,
when q small, shivery voice behind
him began quietly, "Please, mister"
Pete dropped his potatoes and
turned with a quick oath-his read
lest expression OF surprise-Go behold
a Tiny bundle Of clothes standing
moOi0nless in the shadow of the en-
CINE room.
''Come here, young 'un," he said
roughly, and the bundle advanced
into the red light, discovering itself as
a male humanity, decently but thin
ly clad, with chattering lips and big,
pathetic brown eyes.
please, mister" he began again, in
a, curious, old quiet voice, 'may me
an my sister come in an git warm ?"
Peter regarded him silently for a
few seconds. Then, ''Where dye
come from?" ne demanded. "Where
dye live?'
"Forty-nine East Ontario" began
the mite mechanically. No." cor
recting himself, chats where twas.
We were burned OUT" In the same
matter-of-fact voice, ''last night"
'You was, was your" said Pete
meditatively scratching his head.
sDid you live near Sexton s {" naming
the scene of last nights disastrous
fire.
Eyes, in the alley, please mister, "
glancing uneasily out of the door,
may get my sister ?"
But Pete took no notice. where's
your folks 20 he asked.
My sisters outside" said the child,
moving away from the fire with
another uneasy glance toward the
street.
Now, no foolin'l" said Peter stern
''She amt ali yer folks, is she"
'No," reluctantly.
Then where's the rest ?"
''MY aunt's took 'em in" answered
the child slowly.
'Then why didn't she take you,
too ?"
The boy hesitated. ''She said Mag
gle was bad" he said at length, I'M
willingly, an'-an' she turned her out,
an so come with her.
$50 you come with her," replied
Pete slowly; an what hev We bin
dom sence?'
.'Walkin' around" answered the
mite, quietly.
pete stared. "Nice weather for
promenadin', he remarked.
Come, young 'un," taking down a
lantern from the wall. "S'pose we'll
hev to go an git yer sister,"
They went out together into the
storm, and the child led the way con.
fdently through drifts almost as nigh
as himself to g comparatively shell
tered doorway near at hand. Here,
however, he stopped IN dismay at
finding it unUenanted.
'fShe was here. [ left her herew he
cried, pitching his thin little voice TO
reach Pete's ear above the shriekiDe
wind, and then suddenly he made a
dart forward toward dark heap hall
covered with snow about g. dozen
yards away. Petestruggled after him
and flashed MS lantern on the pros
trate figure Of a young girl. The thin
wooden shawl had fallen off, and her
white, unconscious face, as white 81
most as the snow upon which it was
pilloWed, was partially yelled by the
long, sweeping tresses of her dark
hair. One small bare hand was
pressed against her side, and with the
other she clasped tiny bundle.
'sIt's Maggie!" cried the boy throw
ng himself beside her on his knees and
striving with his tiny arms to raise